Snagging wheel



F. WAHL SNAGGING WHEEL sept. 1, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1957 F. WAHL SNAGGING WHEEL sept; 1, 1959 s sheets-snaai 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1957 Sept. l, 1959 F. wAHL. 2,902,230

SNAGGING WHEEL Filed Nov. 27, 1957 I 3 Sheets-Sheetm l ,hill

lll

United States Patent This inventionfrelatesitocontinuous strand takeup Aunits -.and particularlytofsnagging Wheels lforsu'eh units.

In the processing of various types of strands,-such*as the extrlusion of plastic on lfwires, the operatio'n is Ivcontinuous 'and-ibis necessary to.:`providea continuous takeup ltherefor. During operation jof conventional continuous -t'akeup units Lthe 'strand iis nwound Iupon lone--takeup --reel vuntil that reel islled'or until faV predetermined length 4of the strand has been wound-thereon, after Vwhich the distributor, `acting -to distribute the strand, is shifted laterally-.away from thearea 0f'thefil1'edreelv and intothe area oflainother-or empty lreel where vit wi11 ldistribute r'thestran'd' ontheotherfreel. V-rEaeh reelisfprovided with a `snagging wheelf adjacent `its y inner headto snag f the-,portion ofA the strand passing from rone reel Yto thev other, -to move the istrafndlportion frelative to `a stationary f'cutter wherel itis cut,andV toholdfthecut ends' thereby ypreventing the 'strand'from' unwinding-fronn"y theV full-reel qand holding the new leading-fendffor winding the lstrandon theempty reel. v Infthe past, thelhooksof -the fs'nagfging l*wheels `have been -xed-ly mounted, presenti-ng 'various .problensin- 4cludi'ngthe:problernf'of readilyffremoving the ends fof'the lstrands from the hooks, the'loeation of Ythe hooks f'for strands of various tsizes Aand themoun'ting "of tthe' hooks so that the strand engaging surfaces 'will :be-'like distances yfrontthe-'periphery ofthewheel.

The objectf of the presentffiven'tion l is afs'ngging =wh`ee1 ffor a y continuous takeup unit which lembodies 1a1.solut"ion to the'setprbblems L In 1acc'ordan ':e with l`theobjectfoffthe =inv'entin the tsnagging l-wheel includes 'a circular body @adapted jfor mounting-oda drive Yforf-a-talreu'p reelrand finclu'ding like hook frnembers rhavin'g Vleg t-po'rtins Ivextending =through nspaced apertures 1in 1-theperiphery Ff A:the body -mernber and `:connected -vto means movable to free the hooks for Toutward movementtoyreleasefa hooked `strand rport'ionrand 'movableinto='likestrand:engaging-positions.

'More specifically, rthe `hooks l'are Pnormally urge'd olitwardly byr :findividual rsp1-ings obut rare controlled in their positions by fadjustable screws withY conical ends F:carried 1by van V'annu-lar -rne`mber fnormal'ly urged outwardly 'by springs but t movableinwrdlydring mounting of "afi-eel tin posit-ion, t`o /fo'ree' the Eonic'ml-ends of `thefse'rewfs 41hinto tapered apertures, disposed in the leg portions Aoftltre'r respeetive thooks, to "draw 'the hobks inwardly "toward =the centerv evrasrisnfof7 the *wheel tofsposi'tion fthe `hooks for Aiirrnly :gripping I:or `fsna'gging itheV strand 'when transferred from Aone wakeup :reel Y to fanother.

Y Other *objectsfand-advaritageswill? be apparent from the f-fllowing detailed description when `considered fin 'e'o'n- Fjun'ction with the iaccompanying` drawings, wherein:

Fig. .f1 is fa=front *elevational J'view lof fa ileft lsnaggi'ng wheel; i t f .tE/ig. #2 is 'an aenlrged se'etonal 'view itak'enfalongft-he rlinefZ'dZ-tef IFi-g.` y1 :with thelsnagging-Whelf mounted f in fth'takeupunit; Y t v Fig. 3 is a fragmentarylfront 7`elevational :view of la vrightsnaggingAwfheeL-aud. s

2,902,23 Patented Sept. l, 1959 ICC Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a continuous takeup` 'mecha- 'nism em'bodying'lthe linvetion.

The' snaggingiwheels showuin Ei'gs. 1 and 3 areidentical lin'every det-ail with'the feceptinofthepositions of the -hooks `to 'condition them "for L'ri'ght'an'd left Yhand 'takeup reels. For this reason the Tdescription will "-be vdirected mainly to the snag'ging'wheellshown in Fig. 1"rather than the snaggin'glwheelll shown fin Fig. '3. The'wheel 10 lhas acircular body 12 'centrally 'aperture'd at 14 for mounting on1a2conefcen'teri15 off'apulley portion 16v of fa fdrive unit. The body -112flhas 'fapin F17 xedly mounted therein with '-onefendipositionedito enter-'the conventional aperture vin 'one vend"orh'eadof alfakeup-"rleel 1'18 Vand Lthe other end entering an aperture 19 Lof the fm'ernbe'r II6 -:for "connecting'the body 11T-to the`n'embe'r. Screws I20\ com- .plete the'conneetin bfthelody l1f2't'o theYmerber-fl'ti. The screws 20 v'extend ethroughfa'n enlarged fan'nular'portion 21, which'servesfasafbearingforfan annularelement .22. The-annular element-lzrfisfheld against displacement by a-retainingfiringShaving aninwardly projecting-lip -26 cooperatingfwith an outwardlyproje'eting lip i2-7 of "the element `221`to"1lin1-ittauirialfmovement Joffthe element. -A pluralty'of springsvZS housed iin pockets -29 `disposed 4at spaced positions-beut Ethe element 22 engage the yadjacent surface `offthe body i12 '-t'o uniformly urge fthe 'element toltheeleftioffFig..:2 untilthe lips-Z6 and Zlrnet An annular flange fintegra'l 'with the l"elementf22leitends to the left adistancefsuiientltoengageltheheadlothe reel 18.

Thefibody -22 hasanrannularpepheraliange r32'lwith a tapered surfaee`33'and radially Ss'pa'eed lapertures Sit-'to receiveflikefhok's'SS. ,H'Fheihoolss 35 Eare substantially L-shap`e'd "with vlthe'ir lon'ger leg Iportio'n's 37 -eXte'nding -through Vthe taper-tures l'534 Ian'd Ipfrvided with apertures 36 near ftheir inner ieiids. 517he`'sh'trt'e'r'leg'-po'rtiolls of 'the hooks `35 are #identified #as fja'w portions 33. The apertures 36 taper Y"outwardly l from Etheir cross sectional center :lines =toprovide1af pair oftaper'ed Y:surfaces ineach aperture to cooperate"fwithfafconical endfof avis'crewsf'l'l. Aperturas-t0 "in :fherijaw diz aligned 'with the screws 41 to=allowtlongitudinal nov me'ritCbfthe-'serews v`rPhe screwl is frnounted Pin a .fth'ea'i'ed aperture Vin the element 22 at each hook position wheretle element is'rel`cessed'fat;1 :42 to receive1e'a`e'hfhk. The annlarfmentber 25 4isrecessedYin e'a'eh istaneefatfll; l aehfse'rew 41'is zpro'videcl withfailocl nt Mtl-Wherebylitfniaylbefadjusted to locate=its :respective lhokat'lafdesired position" relative to =the periphery'ofthe'rwli'eel Ywhen in thefop'eratedpsition shown in Fig` 2. iTo? 'ti lfyfset`theF's'crews41-'a'desired 'number of: screwsqli maylb'used, eitending them through apertures `47'in tlrebody 'l-Zandintoithreaded 'apertures-4B voftheel'ement 22. 'lhreugh theaid vrofthe screwst4`6 the element 2"?. is'fforc'edI'iniitsoperated position and held of those in Fig. l and during the initial assembly of the hooks the springs 50 of Fig.l 3 are moved about the axis of the mountingscrews 55 to engage the notch 51 of its hook 35.

The structure shown in Fig.` 4 is a continuous takeup mechanism showing the two snagging wheels and 11. In the present illustration the takeup reel 18 shown mounted on the drive member 16, has been forced by a rotatable cone center'60 against the fixed position cone center 15. In the present illustration the cone center 60 is moved axially by a piston (not shown) of an air cylinder 61. In a similar manner a drive member 16 for a takeup reel 18' has a yflxed position cone center 15' cooperating with a movable ycone center 60 moved axially by a piston (not shown) of an air cylinder 61'. The drive members 16 and 16 are operatively connected through belts 62 and 62 toshafts 63 and 63', these shafts being connected through belts 64 and 64 to members 65 and 65. The members 65 and 65 normally are free to ride on a shaft 67 of a suitable drive means such as a motor 68. The shaft 67 extends through the entire structure shown at the top of Fig. 4 and has fixed clutch members 69 and 69 mounted thereon. The members 65 and 65 have clutch members 70 and 70 adapted for selective connection with their respective clutch members 69 and 69. The members 65 'and 65' also carry braking elements 71 and 71' positioned away from a fixed brake member 72 when their respective clutch members 69-70 or 69-70 are engaged but to engage the fixed brake member 72 when the clutch members are released or disengaged. In the present illustration reel 18 is being filled with a strand 74 extending around a sleeve 75 and through the forked end of a distributor arm 76 movable in the conventional manner by a reversible threaded shaft 77. When the reel 18 is filled the distributor arm 76 will be moved laterally through axial movement of the shaft 77 to transfer the strand 74 to the takeup reel 18. It is conventional practice to start rotation of the takeup reel 18 prior to the transferring operation so that the snagging wheel 11 will be rotating at the same speed as a snagging wheel 10 when the strand is transferred from the full reel to the empty reel. A stationary knife or cutter 78 positioned between the snagging wheels 10 and 11 serves to cut the strand between the wheels, leaving ythe ends secured to the hooks which have snagged the'strand portion between the reels.

During operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 it will be apparent that, when the reel 18 is filled or a predetermined measured length of the strand has been wound thereon and the distributor arm 76 is shifted from the solid line position to the dotted line position, the portion of the strand74 extending over the peripheries of the wheels 10 and 11 will be snagged by the next adjacent hooks. This laterally moved portion of the strand is tentatively stationary so that the approaching pair of hooks of the snagging wheels 10 and 11 will firmly snag and hold the ends of this portion so that it may be severed. Furthermore, the severed ends of the strand will be firmly held by the hooks which have gripped the strand to hold the strand on the full reel against unwinding until that reel is stopped and action is taken by the removal of the cone center 66 to allow the filled reel to be removed. No action is necessary on the part of the operator to remove the end of the strand from the hook 35 of the snagging wheel 10 due to the fact that the moment the holding force for the takeup reel 18 is removed by movement of the cone center 60 to the left, the springs 28 will function to move the elements 22 outwardly, moving the conical ends 40 of the screws 41 outwardly a distance, not sufficient to completely remove their connections with their hooks 35 but a distance sufficient to allow each hook35 to be moved outwardly by its spring 50 to automatically free the end of the strand, allowing the operator to concentrate his full effort on the reel itself. There is another feature 4 which has not been brought out regarding the takeup reel 18 but will be apparent from following the action of the takeup reel 18'. The starting end of the strand is held by one of the hooks 35 of wheel 11 and after the takeup reel 18' is filled and the transfer arm 76 is returned to the solid lineV position, where a new empty reel 1-8 is mounted between the centers 15 and 60, another portion or the trailing end of the strand wound on the reel 18' will be snagged by amother hook of wheel 11. This makes it doubly important thatv the ends of the strands held by the hooks be freed upon removal of the force holding the reels in place. If the snagging hooks were not free to move outwardly and caused to move outwardly by the springs 50, the operator would have to remove the strands from the hooks and in many instances if the strands become so firmly wedged in place that easy removal of the strands would not be possible, they may become broken 'and remain in the hooks, eventually filling the areas and rendering the hooks ineffective.

Equally important, with the freedom of the hooks to move outwardly to free the strand portions, is the assurance of the hooksreturning to their predetermined operated positions prior to` receiving the next strand portion. 'Ihis is made possible through the accurate setting of the screws 41 with their conical endsr40 in either portion of the aperture 36 in its respective hook 35. In other words, the hooks 35 are caused to lie against the inner'wall of the body 12 and the element 22 is forced, by the reel being moved into the mounting position on the cone center, against'the springs 28 until the element engages the inner surface of the body so that each screw 41, having been adjusted in this closed position through the assistance of the screws 46, will assure accurate positioning of its hook in returning to the snagging position.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. v Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein'axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels to take up a continuous strand on one reel until that reel is filled and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also including means operable to force the reels for operative connection with their drive means, the snagging wheel comprising a circular body secured coaxially to one of the drive means, rotatable therewith and having an annular peripheral flange with radially spaced apertures therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures in the flange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotation of the one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the. flange to snag and firmly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a filled reel across the flange, and means rendered effective to move the hooks outwardly on removal of the filled reel to free the strand portion.

2. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels'to take up a continuous strand on one reel until that reel is lled and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also including means operable to force the reels for operative connection with their drive means, the snagging wheel comprising a circular body secured coaxially to one of the drive means, rotatable therewith and having an annular peripheral flange with radially spaced apertures therein, and hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures in the flange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotationof the one driving 1.11.@3115 all@ ht/ing tapered surfaces cooperating with the 55 adjacent. portions of the y* flange "toA lsnag andfrml'y hold a portion irof the strandY whenmoved from la Vlled reel acrossv the -angefthe hooks-heingfree to move outwardly Afrom their @snagging z--positions i to free the snagged Vwire portionrwhentthe .filledreel' is-,remo'ved from Ythe unit.

drive means,A rotatable therewith and having -an annular peri-pheralf-fiange `withgradi-ally spaced-apertures therein, hooks 4`having leg portions extending-through the aperturesin the fange land :jaw-portions extending like dis- -tan'ces inthe directionl of rotation of the onedrivingmeans and having tapered surfacescooperating -with the -adjacent portions of the fiange to fsnag and firmly hold a portiono'f thestran'd when rnovedfromfa filled reel across the flange, `thel hooks being -free` to move outwardly Y from 4theirsnagging :positions to free the snagged wire-portion when the filled reelisfremoved from the unit, and means responsive -to v-anempty Yreel beingforced into operative lconnection -witheits'drivev-means to return 4thehooks to their snagging' positions. y

4. A snagging -wheel for a rvcontinuous takeup unit 'whereinaxially aligneddrive v-rneansfor takeup reels are yselectively driven to-.rotatethe takeup reels to 'take up la continuous strand on one reel until lthat reel is filled and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also including means operable to vforce the reels for operative connection with their drive means, the'sna'ggin'g Wheel comprising a circularbody secured-coaxiallyit'o one of the drive means, rotatable therewith fand having an annular peripheral flange with radially spaced apertures V"therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the'apetues in the fiange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotation of the one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the flange to snag and firmly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a filled reel across the flange, and means rendered effective to move the hooks outwardly on removal of the filled reel to free the strand portion, means responsive to an empty reel being forced into operative connection with its drive means to return the hooks to their snagging positions.

5. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels to take up a continuous strand on one reel until that reel is filled and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also including means operable to force the reels for operative connection with their drive means, the snagging wheel comprising a circular body secured coaxially to one of the drive means, rotatable therewith and having an annular peripheral ange with radially spaced apertures therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures in the ange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotation of the one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the ange to snag and firmly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a filled reel across the ange, an annular element supported by the body and movable from a normal position spaced from the body to an operated position adjacent the body by a takeup reel forced into operative connection with the drive means, and locating members carried by the element to engage the leg portions of the hooks to move them into their snagging positions.

6. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeupy unit wherein axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels to take up a continuous strand on one reel until that reel is filled and f6 Ytransfer-the` Ystrand -to--thefotherfreel, the 4unit also including-meansfoperable -toiforce the reels -for operative -coninection with'their drivemeans,\-the'snagging vwheel com- .prisinglawireular A:body secured coaxially `to one lof the drive means, rotatable therewith and having-an-annular peripheraleflange,lwithlradially spaced apertures therein, hooks @having leg `l'portions ,extending through the aper- -tures ein ethe flange-and fjaw. portions extending 4like Vdistances in the -diretio'n of rotation -of Athe one driving means and having'taperedsurfaees `cooperating with the adjacent portions of the -fl-angerto snag and firmly hold a :portionof fthe fstrand when-moved from .a vfilled r'eel across the flange, an-annular-element.supported by the --bodyandmova'ble lfrom La --noyrmlfposition spaced Ifrom thebody uto an -operated .position adjacent the body by v ata-keup reelforced-intofpperative connection with the drive means, locating members carried vby the Velement Vto engage the leg-portionshof"the-.hooks to 1move vthem into ltheir-snaggingpositions, and-means actuable to adjust -theflocating'f-members relativeto their hooks to adapt the loeatingfmembers to wlocate Vthe ftapered surfaces of vthe jaw .portions -of Ythe. hooks `at Y`predetermined variable .positions relativeto theperipheryof the nge portions for snagging strands ofi various sizes.

7. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein=axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are seleetivelydriven torotatefthe takeup reels to take up a continuousstrandvon one reel until thatreel is lfilled and transfer the-strand Ytothe other reel, the unitv also includ- `ing means operable to force therreels for operative connection-withtheirdrive means, the snagging-wheel corn- ,prising a-circular fbody'secured coaxially to one of the .drive mea`ns,f'rotatabletherewith and having an annular peripheral ilange withfradiallyspaced apertures therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures inthe-flange wand -jaw-.portions extending like distances fin) the 'direction of'frotation iofathe one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the flange to snag and firmly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a filled reel across the flange, an annular element supported by the body and movable from a normal position spaced from the body to an operated position adjacent the body by a takeup reel forced into operative connection with the drive means, locating members carried by the element to engage the leg portions of the hooks to move them into their snagging positions, and means to move the annular element away from the body when a takeup reel is removed to cause the locating members to free their hooks to move outwardly limited distances to free the snagged strand.

8. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels to take up a continuous strand on one reel until that reel is filled and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also including means operable to force the reels for operative connection with their drive means, the snagging wheel comprising a circular body secured coaxially to one of the drive means, rotatable therewith and having an annular peripheral flange with radially spaced apertures therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures in the flange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotation of the one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the flange to snag and firmly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a filled reel across the flange, an annular element supported by the body and movable from a normal position spaced from v the body to an operated position adjacent the body by a takeup reel forced into operative connection With the drive means, locating members carried by the element to engage the leg portions of the hooks to move them into their snagging positions, means to move the annular 7 element away from the body when a takeup reel is removed to cause the locating members to free their hooks to move outwardly limited distances to free the snagged strand, and individual meansto move the hooks outwardly when freed for such movement.

9. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels to take up a continuous strand on one reel until that reel is iilled` and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also including means operable to force the reels for operative connection with their drive means, the snaggng wheel comprising a circular body secured coaxially to one of the drive means, rotatable therewith and having an annular peripheral ange with radially spaced apertures therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures in the ange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotation of the one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the flange to snag and iirmly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a iilled reel across the ange, an annular element, having spaced threaded apertures therein, supported by the body and movable from a normal position spaced from the body to an operated position adjacent the body by a takeup reel forced into operative connection with the drive means, the leg portions of the hooks having like apertures adjacent their inner ends and with truncated cone shaped surfaces, and locating members threadedly disposed in 4the spaced apertures of the element and having conical ends movable in their respective apertures of the hooks to free the hooks for outward movement on removal of a takeup reel and to return their hooks to snagging positions when a takeup reel is forced into engagement with its drive means.

10. A snagging wheel for a continuous takeup unit wherein axially aligned drive means for takeup reels are selectively driven to rotate the takeup reels to take up a continuous strand ononereel until that reel is filled and transfer the strand to the other reel, the unit also includingme'ansfoperablefto force thereels lfor operative connection with their'drive means, the snagging Wheel com prising'av circular body securedcoaxially to one of the drivelmean's, Yrotatable therewith and having an annular peripheral flange with radially spaced apertures therein, hooks having leg portions extending through the apertures in the flange and jaw portions extending like distances in the direction of rotation of the one driving means and having tapered surfaces cooperating with the adjacent portions of the ange to snag and rrnly hold a portion of the strand when moved from a filled reel across the flange, an annular element, having spaced threaded apertures therein, supported by the body and movable from a normal position spaced from the body to an operated position adjacent the body by a takeup reel forced into operative connection with the drive means, the leg portions of the hooks having like apertures adjacent their inner ends and with truncated cone shaped surfaces, and locating members threadedly disposed in the spaced apertures of the element and having conical ends movable in their respective apertures ofthe hooks to free the hooks for outward movement on removal of a takeup reel and to return their hooks to snagging positions when a takeup reel is forced into engagement with its drive means, the locating members being threadedly adjustable in their spaced apertures of the element to selectively set the hooks in their snagging positions for strands of various sizes.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

